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THE Premier of the Western Cape, Ebrahim Rasool, with Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane (on behalf of the Inter-faith steering
group), Minister Cobus Dowry, Agri-Wes-Kaap, Women on Farms, Surplus People's Project, organised farmworkers and emerging farmers are organising a multi-faith service at Piketberg today at 10:00.
The theme of the service is 'A Province united in the Face of Drought, Fires and Floods: A Call to Prayer and Change'.
Faith leaders from a representative spectrum of religious communities in the Province met with Premier Rasool and Minister Dowry
under the facilitation of Archbishop Ndungane at Bishopscourt recently.
The purpose of the meeting was to respond to Cabinet's call for the mobilisation of the Province's faith resources in response to
the drought, fires and floods affecting all of us.
From April 2004 to 18 January 2005 there were 376 disasters (fire and flood) affecting 12 351 families and displacing 52 283 people
with 45 deaths in the Western Cape. Some 2500 farm worker families are already suffering the repercussions of the drought. Another 6000 families will be affected if no rain falls by June.
R9 million is already being utilised to get food to animals. The application to President to declare large parts of the Province as
disaster areas will unlock a further R26 million for fodder to June.
Municipalities are transporting water for human consumption on farms. In the absence of rain by June the Province will have to cull
two thirds of its livestock.
The steering committee established at the meeting agreed that prayer alone was not sufficient as we should also take responsibility
for the changes that we must make to our lifestyles, water use patterns, the crops and livestock we farm, our resource planning and related issues.
Today's multi-faith service will start this course of action. They also decided to begin a daily observance of a minute of prayer
at noon each day:
* for unity, compassion and sharing,
* for the drought to be alleviated,
* for those most affected by the drought and fires and floods [especially farm workers and owners],
* for us to plan our water useage well,
* for us to use this most precious resource with responsibility and gratitude
* for wisdom and strength to our leaders as they guide us through this difficult time of challenge and long term change.
The religious communities and affected Government Departments of Agriculture, Social Services and Poverty Alleviation, Local
Government and Housing and Environmental Affairs and Development Planning will develop a joint ongoing campaign of drought, fire and flood awareness, mobilisation and information focussing on faith communities.
They call for continued patience from farm owners in the difficult decisions that they face as to selling farms, culling stock and
or letting workers go and for farm communities to recognise the need for solidarity.
They support Government's research into desalination, alternative aquifer systems and crop changes.
All faith communities are asked to focus their sermons and teachings on their upcoming holy days on the above and to assist in
mobilising their communities.
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